Interview with Lee C. White, August 20, 1979

Interview Summary

Lee White, an administrative assistant in John Sherman Cooper's Washington D.C. office, begins the interview by discussing how he first met Cooper. White recalls how he was hired at Cooper's office. White discusses his role as administrative assistant in Cooper's office. Other members of the staff are mentioned and White describes their contentious relationship with Thruston Morton, the other Senator from Kentucky in Cooper's time, and his staff. White compliments Cooper's abilities as a legislator and describes work regarding the coal industry, T.V.A. and Appalachia. White provides his opinion as to why Cooper identifies as a Republican. The interviewee then talks of Cooper's work with John F. Kennedy to pass an Aid to India bill. Cooper's character is described. The interviewee then talks of Cooper's role in education legislation as well as the intern program at the D.C. office. White explains why Cooper was so popular with Kentuckians. White then talks of his role in speech-writing for Cooper. Cooper's importance in enacting civil rights legislation is explored. Cooper's friendship with John F. Kennedy is briefly mentioned. How Cooper got along with various White House staffs is examined. White details a Newsweek poll about Cooper. Cooper's voting habits and faults are also mentioned. The interview concludes with White recounting several anecdotes involving Senator Cooper and himself.

Interview Keyword

Dwight Eisenhower Everett Dirksen Bailey Guard Cumberland Gap White House Depressed Areas bill Dick Gerrish Earle Clements Republicans Fred Holburn Harrison Williams Jack Purcell John Sherman Cooper Keen Johnson Eastern Kentucky Appalachia Kitty Florence Larry Merthan Lee Nunn Mary McFarland Newsweek magazine Peabody Coal Ruth Midthun Senators Clifford Case Harry F. Byrd Sr. Jacob Javits Jim Eastland Willis Robertson Committeewoman John F. Kennedy Constituents Thruston Morton Prescott Bush Administrative assistants Civil rights legislation Friends Office Thruston Morton Foreign aid

Interview LC Subject

Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government White, Lee C., 1923- White, Lee C., 1923- --Interviews Washington (D.C.) Kentucky Kentuckians Somerset (Ky.) Pulaski County (Ky.) Staff Tennessee Valley Authority Personality Coal India Character Education Interns Speechwriting Civil rights movement Voting Letters Yale University

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.